Last visit was: 31 Aug 2026, 21:47 It is currently 31 Aug 2026, 21:47
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
gordonf35
User avatar
Joined: 12 Mar 2014
Last visit: 06 Mar 2016
Posts: 57
Own Kudos:
141
Given Kudos: 77
GPA: 3.4
Posts: 57
Kudos: 141
Does a subset in GMAT includes an empty set? 31 Aug 2014, 11:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello Future CEOs, CEOs and Instructors of Future CEOs 8-)

I have come across a problem in the GMATCLUB Test as follows:

How many different subsets of the set {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} do not contain 0?

16
27
31
32
64

The OA is 32.

However, if I use the "standard approach": 5C5 + 5C4 + 5C3 + 5C2 + 5C1, my answer is 31.

The reason why OA is 32 because the question "assumes" there is an empty set. Apparently this is not a common one because according to the test status, more than 70% of people got it wrong. Please could anyone suggest when I see the word "subsets" in GMAT, shall I include the empty set?

Thank you guys, good luck in all your applications!

Gordon



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
abhinav2803
User avatar
Joined: 25 Dec 2012
Last visit: 14 Nov 2015
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 2
Kudos: 5
Does a subset in GMAT includes an empty set? 02 Sep 2014, 10:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gordonf35
Hello Future CEOs, CEOs and Instructors of Future CEOs 8-)

I have come across a problem in the GMATCLUB Test as follows:

How many different subsets of the set {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} do not contain 0?

16
27
31
32
64

The OA is 32.

However, if I use the "standard approach": 5C5 + 5C4 + 5C3 + 5C2 + 5C1, my answer is 31.

The reason why OA is 32 because the question "assumes" there is an empty set. Apparently this is not a common one because according to the test status, more than 70% of people got it wrong. Please could anyone suggest when I see the word "subsets" in GMAT, shall I include the empty set?

Thank you guys, good luck in all your applications!

Gordon
Show more

Yes By definition when the term subset is mentioned then the empty set {} or null set is also included in it.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!